Chelsea v PSG: Champions League match preview
A look ahead to Tuesday night’s quarter-final first leg fixture at Stamford Bridge
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Your support makes all the difference.There was a slight feeling of déjà vu attached to Chelsea’s Champions League quarter-final defeat in Paris last week.
Two years ago, the Stamford Bridge side were also beaten 3-1, this time in the first leg of a last-16 clash in Naples. And like at Parc des Princes on Wednesday, Chelsea’s defence struggled to deal with the threat of Argentinian forward Ezequiel Lavezzi - he scored twice during that game in Italy and was Paris St-Germain’s stand-out player in the French capital too.
Chelsea turned the 2012 tie, and subsequently their season, around - progressing to the last eight following a 4-1 (after extra time) home victory. The win, coupled with the appointment of Roberto Di Matteo, instigated a run of form which brought only three defeats in the club’s next 18 games and ended with a first ever Champions League trophy after a penalty shoot-out victory over Bayern Munich at Allianz Arena.
Now Chelsea need a similar injection of momentum. They comfortably saw off the challenge of Stoke City at the weekend but title rivals Liverpool and Manchester City won too and both hold an advantage going into the final month of the league season.
While Chelsea are still involved in a three-way battle for domestic honours, PSG have all but sealed the Ligue 1 title. They rested eight of the team that started last Wednesday for the 3-0 win against Stade de Reims on Saturday and, with only six games to play, have a 13-point lead over AS Monaco at the summit.
Lavezzi says he is “not worried” about Chelsea producing a comeback similar to the one he experienced when at Napoli in 2012 but Jose Mourinho has never lost a European quarter-final over two legs and Chelsea have scored at least twice in each of their last four home games. It promises to be intriguing.
KICK-OFF: Tuesday, 7.45pm
PAST THREE MEETINGS:
Paris St-Germain 3 (Lavezzi, Luiz og, Pastore) Chelsea 1 (Hazard), Champions League, April 2014
Chelsea 0 Paris St-Germain 0, Champions League, November 2004
Paris St-Germain 0 Chelsea 3 (Terry, Drogba 2), Champions League, September 2004
READ MORE...
Mourinho should accept the blame if Chelsea go out - Cruyff
Mourinho to gamble on Eto'o over Torres and Ba
Lavezzi - on a revenge mission
STATS…
Chelsea have lost just one of their last 13 home Champions League games, winning 11.
PSG’s win over Stade de Reims at the weekend was their 11 straight success in all competitions - a club record.
Jose Mourinho has never lost a two-legged European quarter-final.
PSG have lost only two of their last 11 Champions League away games.
Chelsea have kept clean sheets in four of their last five home matches against French sides.
ODDS…
Chelsea to win: 1.80
Paris St-Germain to win: 4.50
Draw: 3.50
TV: Live on ITV1 at 7.45pm
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